The next day, Randall appears to be coping.

Heading into school the next morning, you didn't actually clock eyes on Randall until 4th period. Though he did send you a text earlier on. Describing some of the looks he'd received when he'd walked into the faculty lounge this morning. Though apparently, for the most part, everyone was being nice to him, which you were glad of. Apart from a few teachers who were no doubt jealous of her beauty, as well as a few more who's advances she no doubt spurned in the past (and who would be bummed that she was "off limits" now), Miss. Card had always been universally liked a by her colleagues. According to Randall anyway. No. If any flack was going to come, it would be almost exclusively from your fellow students.

Sure enough, while sitting in class, waiting for him to appear, you could hear the rumor mill already working. Feeling nervous for your friend, as various classmates discussed how Miss. Card had been spotted in the corridors earlier on with an extremely obvious pregnant belly. Quickly embellishing the sighting. As well as once again jumping to conclusions as to who the father was and why she had kept it a secret for so long. The old favorites, Mr. Hanson and Principle Johnson once again being tossed around.

"...I heard that she told Principle Johnson's wife that it was his, so he suspended her," Melanie Chang whispered to one of her friends on your left. While to your right, Glen Wachowski softly chuckled, "I'm telling you guys, her tits are even bigger now! ...She's HUGE!"

It was at this point, while Glen was making the appropriate gesture with his hands, Randall's familiar voice suddenly shot through the room. Causing him to jump.

"Mr. Wachowski, that's quite enough of that," he said. Walking through the door for the first time in over a month. Dressed in much the same way as he usually did. Blouse, skirt, heels, spectacles. Only this time there was absolutely no hiding the bulge in his stomach. His skirt having obviously been designed to stretch across his pregnant belly. Rather emphasizing its shape. The entire class falling silent as they watched him.

"Well, It's good to see you all again," he then continued, with a smile. "I hope you haven't missed me too much while I was away." Spotting one or two hands shooting up into the air, and adding, "And yes. As you can see, the rumors are true. I am pregnant. Though seeing how it has nothing to do with Government studies, the next person who mention it will be spending this afternoon in detention. Got it?"

Wow. Way to go Randall! you silently cheered your friend. It being obvious that he wasn't going to take any shit from anyone. Presumably having had to go through it all numerous times today already.

Slowly, the hands retracted themselves again, and Randall gave an approving little nod. "Good." Heading over to his desk then and opening up a text book. "Now, if somebody could please me what chapter you'd been covering with Mr. Garrick, we can begin."

From there, the class continued on as it had always done. It almost being as if he'd never even been away. Jumping back into his role with an ease that defied description, and once again looking extremely sexy while he did. This having definitely been something that you'd missed during his absence. Watching him as he slowly walked around the classroom in those heels. Checking how everyone's work was doing. His big breasts bulging out of his blouse, and his belly now following suit. Thinking to yourself, Fuck me! He really is hot.

An hour later, once the bell had rung and everyone had piled out the door, you hung back for a moment to see how he was really getting on. Knowing from experience, that how he appeared on the outside, wasn't necessarily the same thing that was going on inside. Being able to play the role of your friendly but formidable teacher in his sleep.

"So how's your first day back?" you asked him. Once you were alone.

"It's been interesting," he told you. This sounding neither good or bad. "I'm used to everyone staring at me all the time, it comes with the body, but today its been different. Weird, even." This presumably being due to the fact that in this past, it was his breasts, ass and legs drawing all the attention, not his stomach. The fact that he was so self-conscious about it no doubt playing a role too.

"You had anyone hassling you yet?"

"Nah. Heard a few kids joking around in the hallways earlier on, but an evil glare soon put an end to that. Mostly I just get looks of sympathy. People telling me it'll be "alright" and that I don't "need a man" to raise the kid. They mean well I guess, but it can get pretty fucking annoying." Randall having used the excuse that the father had left suddenly and he wasn't at all sure what to do. Hence why he never said anything to anyone. Which in a way, was sort of the truth. Give or take a few months of not actually knowing any of this himself.

"Just wait till my mom gets her hands on you," you warned. Thinking back to your conversation with your parents. "She's already raring to go. Me and my dad had to practically tie her down to keep her from calling you last night."

"Terrific," he sighed. His voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm certainly looking forward to that!"

Admittedly, it had been a long time since he'd really had any kind of major interference from your mother (trying to set him up with Alex probably being the last), and before all this pregnancy business, Randall had no doubt assumed that he was home free. How wrong he was. She meant well though. And having had three kids herself, she did know a thing or two about it. A lot more than either of you did anyway. So, in a way, you supposed it was good that she was eager to help. You just hoped that she wasn't quite so full on this time as she had been the last. For Randall's sake.

"Anyway, don't worry too much about the rest of them," you told him. Not wanting this new-found attention to get him down. "You might be flavor of the month now, but give it a day or two and they'll soon find something else to gossip about instead. ...Like Mrs. Naismith's **** problem for example." Randall himself having informed you that the crotchety old Chemistry teacher was a bit of a booze hound. "They'll get much more mileage out of her."

He nodded. Letting out a little laugh. "True that." Looking at his watch then to check the time. "Anyway, you better get going," he prompted. "I'll give you a call later on though. After my appointment." His check-up at the hospital being today.

"You uh, you don't want me to tag along?"

"Nah. It's cool. I think I can manage on my own this time. Thanks though."

"Don't mention it," you replied. Disguising the fact that you felt a little slighted by this. Visiting the hospital with him perhaps not being the most fun way to spend your afternoon, but you had gone with him before. So why not now? I guess it is kind of personal, you eventually figured. Basically having Dr. Kerry and Dr. Saunders poking and prodding at his body. And last time we still thought I was the father... Plus, he had already gone to the Gynecologist without you Which you supposed, you should really be thankful for.

Leaving him to it then, you headed off to find Sean. Being wholly unsurprised when he too began talking about Randall being pregnant over lunch. As if it was the biggest scoop of the century.

Guess I'm just gonna have to get used to this as well, you mused. Randall definitely not being the only one affected.

Several hours later, you were sat in your bedroom, playing on your XBox, when you received a call from Randall. Being true to his word. Informing you of how things had gone with the doctors.

"...Humiliating as ever," he said. Referring to the poking and prodding parts. Being lucky, by the sounds of it, that you weren't there. "But the good news is that everything seems fine. Kerry said that the baby is doing well and so apparently am I. Though he did give me a run down of a few things I have still got to look forward to, which doesn't exactly sound fun."

You considered for a moment asking what exactly this meant, but thought better of it. Not entirely sure you wanted to know all the various changes a pregnant female body went through. Taking his word for it.

There was a pause then. Randall obviously taking a moment to ready himself for what he was next going to say. Telling you then, "They also asked if I wanted to know what sex it was again."

"And... Did they tell you?" Pretty sure of the answer, but asking anyway. Seeing as how last time, Randall had been pretty adamant that he didn't.

Things had certainly changed since then though. What with Randall being so much more calmer and collected now than he had been. Answering that he indeed had.

"I figured, "what the hell", you know? It's not like it's really gonna change anything. And at least this way I can stop referring to the baby as an "it" all the time."

"I guess," you responded. Figuring that it made sense. You had after all been doing exactly the same thing yourself. The very fact that he had anything growing inside of him, no matter what the gender, being hard enough to deal with as it was.

You were kind of curious though. Now that he knew himself. Nervously asking, "So, what... what is it then? Is it a boy or girl?"